England’s Under-19s are heading to the World Cup Final, all thanks to Skipper Rew’s amazing century!

In a really exciting game at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, England’s Under-19s beat their rivals, Australia’s Under-19s, by 27 runs. So, they’re going to the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup final! It was a match where both captains scored incredible centuries, but England just showed more grit overall in this important semi-final.

A Shaky Start Saved by Rew and Falconer

England won the toss and decided to bat first, but they didn’t start off great. The opening batsmen, Ben Dawkins and Joseph Moores, were out pretty quickly. Then, Ben Mayes was bowled out by Hayden Schiller, who was playing really well. Suddenly, England was in trouble at 60 for 3 in the 14th over. That’s when the captain, Thomas Rew, stepped up. He stayed calm and carefully rebuilt the innings with Caleb Falconer. Their partnership was super important for England’s score. They worked together and took advantage of bad balls, adding 135 runs for the fourth wicket. Rew played especially well, hitting a century off 97 balls, with 14 boundaries and a six!

Late Runs Set a Tough Target

Just when it looked like England would score over 300, Australia’s bowlers fought back towards the end. Falconer was out for a good 40, and Rew was run out for 110 because of a great play by Steven Hogan. But then Farhan Ahmed (28* off 26) and Sebastian Morgan (15 off 22) added some late runs, helping England reach a competitive 277 for 7 in 50 overs. For Australia, Hayden Schiller bowled really well, taking 2 wickets for 31 runs, and Naden Cooray also took 2 wickets for 49 runs.

Peake Fights Alone as Wickets Fall

Australia’s chase started well but quickly fell apart. Will Malajczuk was out lbw to Alex French, and then James Minto got the important wicket of Steven Hogan. Nitesh Samuel played it safe, scoring 47 off 83 balls, but Rew stumped him off Ralphie Albert’s bowling. Captain Oliver Peake was left to fight on his own. He watched as wickets kept falling; Jayden Draper, Aryan Sharma, and Hayden Schiller couldn’t build any partnerships. From 134 for 5, Australia dropped to 207 for 8 and seemed out of the game.

A Big Attack and an Inevitable End

With the run rate going up, Oliver Peake went on a powerful attack that changed the game for a bit. He hit Manny Lumsden for 22 runs in the 46th over, with a six and four fours in a row! He reached a century off 85 balls, bringing Australia back into the game. But it didn’t last. Charles Lachmund was bowled by Sebastian Morgan at the start of the 47th over, and then Peake, trying to score quickly, hit a ball from James Minto straight to point. He was out for an amazing 100, and Australia’s hopes were gone. England’s players praised Peake before celebrating their 27-run win and a spot in the final.

No Problems, Just Great Plays

The game was played fairly, and the technology worked well. It all came down to skill and guts. Thomas Rew’s captain’s innings of 110 showed great leadership and earned him the Player of the Match award. Oliver Peake’s century was full of character and quality, even though his team lost. And the England Under-19 team is still undefeated on their way to the World Cup final, which says a lot about their hard work.

My Thoughts: Heart Over Talent

This semi-final showed that cricket is often about mental strength. Both teams were talented, but England won because of how they played in the middle overs. Rew and Falconer showed they were mature beyond their age, knowing that saving wickets was key. Australia’s chase, except for Peake and Samuel, lacked partnerships. Batsmen got started but couldn’t keep going, leaving too much for their captain to do. England’s bowling was steady, creating pressure and holding their nerve when Peake attacked. It was nice to see them console Peake before celebrating, showing good sportsmanship.

What’s Next and Who to Watch

England will play either India or Pakistan in the final, which will be tough. If they want to win, Thomas Rew and Caleb Falconer need to keep playing well, and their bowlers, especially Sebastian Morgan and Farhan Ahmed, need to be at their best against a likely strong batting lineup. For Australia, Oliver Peake proved he’s going to be a star, and Hayden Schiller is a bowler with a bright future.